Sliding weather-strip for doors



(No Model.) J. [BROWN & W. T. GARRETT M. A GARRETT, Administratrix. of-W. T. GARRETT, Deceased. SLIDING WEATHER-STRIP FOR DOORS.

No. 465,338., I. Patented De0. 15, 1 91.

NITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

JOSIAH T. BROIVN AND MARY GARRETT, ADMINISTRATRIX OF. IVILLIAM T. GARRETT, DECEASED, OF BALLINGER, TEXAS.

SLIDING WEATHER-STRIP FOR DOORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 465,338, dated December 15, 1891.

Application filed April 21, 1891- Serial No. 389,768. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JOSIAH T. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ballinger, in the county of Runnels and State of Texas, and WILLIAM T. GARRETT, late a citizen of the United'States and resident of Ballinger aforesaid, did invent certain new and useful Improvements in Sliding Strips for Doors; and we the said J osIAH T. BROWN and MARY A. GARRETT, administratrix of the said IVILLIAM T. GARRETT, deceased, do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in weather-strips for doors; and it consists, substantially, in such features of arrangement, construction, and

combinations of parts as will hereinafter be more particularly described, and pointed out in the claims.

The object of the invention is to provide an automatic weather-stri p for doors, which shall 2 5 exclude all wind. or moisture and which shall be capable of ready and easy operation.

A further object of the inventionis to provide an automatic weather-strip for doors, which, in addition to excluding wind and rain from beneath the bottom of the door, shall also serve to bind or hold the door open to any position to which it may be brought, substantially as. will more fully hereinafter appear when taken in connection with the accompa- 3 5 nying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 represents a front elevation of a door having the improvements embodied in connection therewith, and Fig. 2 is a view in perspective thereof. Fig. 3 represents in perspective the several parts which constitute the foot-lever or operating mechanism.

In carrying this invention into effect a strip is provided of a length equal to the width of the door and a spring is fastened to 5 the upper edge thereof at or near each end, the

said springs being also secured at their upper ends to the door and tending to maintain the strip upward or out of contact with the floor.-

In order to insure the free and even movement of the strip suitable guide-rods are pro vided therefor, and also stops to prevent the strip being carried too far upward when released, in the manner hereinaftermore fully explained.

For depressing the strip and maintaining I the same in its downward position against the floor resort is had to the use of a spring and foot-lever devices so attached and arranged that the strip can readily be raised and lowered automatically at will.

Reference being had to the several parts of the drawings by the letters marked thereon,

A represents a door, and B indicates the weather-strip, which, as shown, is of a length equal to the width of the door. The said strip is provided with small loops or eyes a a, through which pass the guide-rods h b, the lower ends of which are free or unattached, while their upper ends are inserted'or fastened into the door. These rods serve to guide the strip evenly and prevent said strip from longitudinal displacement. At a suitable distance above the strip '13 small stops 0 0 project outwardly from the door and serve to prevent the strip from being carried too far upward by the retracting-springs O .O. The retracting springs O O are secured at their lower ends to the side of the strip, as shown, while their upper ends are secured to the door. The said springs serve normally to maintain the strip upward or out of contact with the floor, as will be apparent.

Attached or secured to the side of the door at near its lower edge is a plate D, (shown enlarged in Fig. 3,) having an extension 9, which terminates in a hook or projection h, the said plate being also formed or provided with a stud i to enter an opening j, formed in the depressing or foot lever E. (Shown in inverted perspective, Fig. 3.) go

The lever E is formed,preferably, of an oblong shape, and is provided to one side with an opening j, by which said lever is pivoted to the stud i on the side of the plate D, and the said lever is also formed with a flange 7c, which serves to inclose the operating-spring when the lever is brought to a horizontal position. A spring F of suitable strength is secured by one of its ends to the hook or projection h of the plate, while the other end of [00 said spring is secured to the end of the lever farthest from said hook. In this way when the lever is brought down upon the top of the strip the said strip will be forced downwardly and the strength of the springF being greater than the retracted force of the springs O C it is evident that the strip will be securely maintained against the floor. WVhen the lever E is raised to its horizontal position, the spring F will lie in a line parallel with the lever and in a plane coincident with or slightly above the stud z', so that the spring will hold the lever in its horizontal position until it is depressed sufficiently to bring the spring F below the stud 2', when said spring immediately exerts its power to pull the lever down upon the Weather-strip.

To overcome as much noise and friction as possible, a cushion m, of rubber or other suitable material, is provided and is secured to the end of the lever which works against the strip, which cushion is secured to said lever in any preferred manner. 7

From the foregoing description it will be seen that whenever it is desired to close up the crack or opening at the bottom of the door it is simply necessary to depress the lever by means of the foot or otherwise, whereupon said strip will be carried downwardly, as already explained. In this way, too, it will be seen that the strip will serve to hold the door open to whatever position it may be brought, thereby dispensing with weights heretofore employed for such purpose, By bringing the lever to a horizontal position the strip will be carried up by the force of the springs C 0. (See dotted lines, Fig. 1.)

Having thus described this invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

I. In a sliding weather-strip for doors, the combination, with the strip, of the springs O O and the guide-rods, the plate D, constructed as described, the lever pivoted to said plate and provided with a cushion, and the spring F, secured to said plate and lever, substantially as shown, and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a sliding weather-strip for doors, the combination of the strip B, the spring clamping-lever adapted to operate upon the upper face of the same, said clamping-lever consisting of a plate D, adapted to be secured to the door and provided with the hook-extension g, and the vibrating foot-lever E, pivoted to the receiving-plate and formed at its lower end with an eye or hook bar, the said lower end of the foot-lever and the hook-extension being connected by a spiral spring F,-which operates to hold the lever in an upward position and out of contact with the weather-strip or down against said weather-strip, as desired, substantially as described. 1

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

JOSIAH T. BROIVN. MARY A. GARRETT, Administratria; 0f the estate of William T.

Garrett, deceased. Witnesses:

J. N. WINTERS, C. O. HARRIS. 

